CHAPTER 1: CHAPTER 1: NOW THAT’S A KISS

Standing in the luxurious VIP room of the club, Seraphina Thorne nervously clutched the strap of her handbag, her face humble.

Her father is in the ICU, and her brother was sent to jail by her fiancé, Adrian Chamberlain.

The Thorne Family has fallen into disrepute, and everyone avoids her.

Now, Seraphina has nowhere to turn for help, drowning in debt.

If she can’t secure financing soon, the Zenith Group, founded by her father, will end up in Adrian Chamberlain’s hands.

The Vexler Street investment banking mogul before her is her only chance.

"Help you?"

The man standing before the floor-to-ceiling window slowly turned around.

"Miss Thorne, on what basis do you think I would help you?"

The neon light outside cast a faint golden halo around the man’s background.

Standing by the window, the man’s features were exquisite and profound, his demeanor cool and detached.

With such a face, even entertainment industry top stars would lose their spark in his presence.

Seeing the man’s face clearly, Seraphina’s heart tightened abruptly.

She could never have imagined that the renowned Vexler Street veteran LION was actually Ethan Sterling, the once famous figure of Jadeston First High.

Seven years have passed.

The once handsome young man has shed his youthful naivety.

The aura of a higher-up naturally emanates from him, just standing there instills a chill in one’s heart.

Seraphina instinctively took a step back, almost unable to resist turning and fleeing.

But she couldn’t escape.

Currently, the Thorne Family only has her left.

The Ethan Sterling before her is the only one who can and dares to help her.

She took a deep breath and lifted her face.

"As far as I know, Mr. Sterling is looking to develop back home, and Zenith Construction is your best choice. If Mr. Sterling is willing to cooperate, I can hand over all the Zenith Shares under my name to you for free management."

The man’s handsome face remained unperturbed, his tone indifferent.

"As far as I know, Miss Thorne is currently entangled in debt. Whether you can keep this 10% of Zenith Shares is another matter. Besides... how do I know this isn’t a setup between you and Adrian Chamberlain?"

Upon hearing the name Adrian Chamberlain, Seraphina’s heart instantly tightened.

From freshman high school to freshman college, Adrian Chamberlain pursued her for four years.

Back then, Seraphina foolishly believed he truly liked her.

Now she realizes all those sweet words were just perfunctory.

Her most trusted brother Adrian was nothing more than a despicable scoundrel.

Thinking of her father in the ICU and her brother in custody, Seraphina could hardly breathe.

If it weren’t for her relationship with Adrian Chamberlain, perhaps the Thorne Family wouldn’t have wound up like this.

"We’ve already broken up."

Ding—

Ethan’s long fingers holding the wine glass trembled slightly.

The ice cubes in the whiskey clinked against the glass wall, creating a subtle ripple of dark gold.

Lips pressed together, Seraphina stepped forward.

"If you help me, I can... do anything for you."

Currently, besides herself, she has no capital to negotiate with him.

This is her last chip.

Ethan raised an eyebrow, dark waves surging in his eyes.

"Anything?"

Seraphina pressed her lips.

"Anything!"

"Alright." Ethan walked over, pulled out the chair, and sat behind the desk. "Then please, Miss Thorne, prove it to me."

Prove?

"How do you want me to prove it?"

Ethan sipped his drink gently, staring at her face through the desk for a moment.

His thin lips parted, uttering two words.

"Kiss me!"

Seraphina’s breath halted.

Her hands gripped tightly, released, then tightened again.

Stepping forward, she stood in front of Ethan.

The man reclined in the chairback, his thick lashes slightly lowered, casting shadows over his eyes.

Staring at her face, his gaze was inscrutable.

She dared not look into his eyes, reaching over to brace his shoulders, she slowly leaned down.

Her gaze fell on the man’s lips, Seraphina paused.

For her brother, for her father, for the Thorne Family...

She lowered her head and pressed her lips to his.

She had no experience.

Three years of dating Adrian Chamberlain amounted to at most hand-holding and hugging.

Every time he wanted intimacy, she would inexplicably tense up and resist.

It’s her first time proactively kissing a man.

Due to the nervousness, even Seraphina’s lips trembled.

Rather than a kiss, it was more like a brief touch of lips.

Ethan leaned into the chairback, cold as a sculpture.

The fingers clutching the crystal wine glass didn’t move at all.

"All these years, Adrian Chamberlain didn’t even teach you how to kiss?"

The man’s tone was thoroughly mocking.

Realizing he was simply playing games, Seraphina bit her lip, suddenly stood up, and fled toward the guest room door.

As her right hand grasped the doorknob, a palm suddenly reached from behind to grip her wrist.

In the next moment, she was pressed against the door panel.

The man’s kiss descended, cold lips, filled with the spicy zest of strong liquor between the lips and teeth.

That kiss, punishing and wild, left her nearly gasping for breath.

Her body was pinned against the door, intimately entwined.

Behind her thin autumn attire, his body heat was scalding.

The coat slipped from her arms, the handbag fell.

Seraphina’s legs turned weak, almost unable to stand firm.

His large hand clasped her slender neck, Ethan’s brow pressing against hers.

Breathing slightly, his voice hoarse and low.

"This is a kiss."

Seraphina only had time to draw a breath before he sealed her lips again with another kiss.

The man’s palm slipped under her wool sweater from her waist, the heat in his palm made her skin shiver.

Seraphina instinctively reached out to grasp his palm through the clothes.

"What’s wrong... regret?"

The man’s voice sounded right beside her ear.

"No... no!" Seraphina replied breathlessly, "Can you go slower, I... it’s my first time."

Whether her words took effect or it was Seraphina’s illusion, the man’s actions seemed gentler than before.

He’s no longer biting her with a ticklish sting, but it’s still uncomfortable.

Every touch of the man tugged at Seraphina’s nerves.

As if an invisible hand gently brushed her heart again and again.

Making her involuntarily heat up and soften...

His kiss nibbled on her side neck, Ethan’s voice slightly muffled.

"You never slept with Adrian Chamberlain?"

"No... never."

"Good girl!"

Her heartbeat drummed within her chest, her blood colliding with her eardrums again and again.

His final words were unclear to Seraphina.

"What did you say?"

Ethan said nothing.

Suddenly, he stepped back and released her.

Seraphina leaned weakly against the door, like a fish stranded ashore.

Breathing heavily, somewhat puzzled as she looked at him.

The sudden stop left her uncertain of his thoughts.

Did he find her lack of experience boring?

Grabbing the wine glass from the table, Ethan drank the liquid in one gulp.

Turning back again, he had returned to his previous indifferent, chilly demeanor.

A stark contrast to the man who had just pressed her wildly.

If not for the lipstick still stained on his lips.

Seraphina almost doubted if what just happened was real or a figment of her imagination.

"I can cooperate with you, but... I have one condition."

"What condition?"

The man’s sexy thin lips parted, uttering two words slowly.

"Marry me."